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(No Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. BHRLIGH.

LETTER B0X.

No.`329,293. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

Figi- N. PETERS, Pnamulhognpher. whingmn. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

^ L. EHRLICH.

LETTER BOX. N0. 329,293. Patented Oct. 27, 1885.

@ .Q I I S di n! I Ill UNITED STATES ATENT Prion,

LEO EHRLICH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,293, dated October 27, 1885.

Application lcd September 1S, 1884.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEO EHRLICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in letter-boxes, and is designed to produce a device that shall be a perfect safeguard against the fraudulent extraction of mail-matter from the box by carriers or other persons. Further, it is designed to prevent the direct handling of mail-matter by the carrier.

In the description of the device reference will be made to the annexed drawings, in which Figure l represents a vertical section through the box, the contained mail-bag being shown in full, and Fig. 2 a perspective of the box with t-he door opened; Fig. 3, a detail perspective of the bag, and Fig. 4 a plan view of the plate at the letter-receiving orifice of the bag.

A designates the body of the box, which is of the construction and form of an ordinary mail-box. The door B is preferably hinged at the bottom and secured at the top by a lock in the usual manner. This, with the usual covered letter-receiving slot C, constitutes a common letter-box, but which is open to the objection that the honesty of the carrier is the only safeguard provided in the collection of the mail. To take all responsibility from the said carrier asmall bag, D, is provided. This bag is made of leat-her, canvas, or other tough and pliable material, and is ot' such size as to easily tit in the box, as shown. The bottom of the bag is provided with an opening similar to that on the large transportationbags, and which consists of two flaps, M N, one provided with staples P, which pass through slots in the other. The staples are secured by a strap, O, secured to one side of the bag, and passing through the staples, the free end being slotted so as to receive a staple, P', on the other side of the said bag, and there be secured by a lock, R, the key of the same being at the central oftice.

It being necessary that the public should be enabled to insert the letters in the bag, one end is provided with two metal frames, E and Serial No. 143,402. (No model F, one, F, having hinged to it a series of spring-actuated doors or wings, G, the hinging being alternately at the top and bottom. Vhen the bag is not in the box, these wings are kept normally closed by springs G, arranged on their axes. Thus while the insertion of a letter is easy, the extraction is rendered impossible, the carrier in whose possession the bag is, not having time to go through the tine manipulation necessary in overcoming the obstacles this style of closing presents. The two metal plates secure between them the edges of the slot in the bag.

The operation of the spring-retained wings is entirely automatic in closing, they being opened by the insertion of the letter, and then immediately brought to the closed position by the springs. The other and corresponding end of the bag is provided with an eye, H, of leather or metal, as preferred. On the inside of the box and on each side ofthe slot O is a projecting strip or flange, I. These strips enter the metal-bound slot in the end of the bag, and forcing the wings G apart, leave a clear passage for the letters, as is evident. This arrangement supports one side of the bag when in the box, the other being supported by a hook, K, which engages with the eye H. The rounded top or water-shed A of the box is formed into a paper-receptacle by means of a partition, S, and a hinged door, T. This door is kept normally shut by means of a spring, T', coiled around the hinge-bolt. On the said door are two curved proj ections-one, U, for covering lthe hinge and protecting it from the weather, and the other, V, for the purpose of a handle in opening the said door. On the door B of the box is a projection, W, that presses against Athe end of the frames E and F, the other end ofthe said frames pressing against a plate, X, correspondingly placed on the inside of the back of the box. This arrangement effectually holds the end of the bag in place.

In operation each box will be numbered or otherwise designated, and have two bags of the same number or designation, one bag being left in the box while the other is carried to the office.

The operation of the device is clearly apparent from the above description, and it will be seen that the various parts operate con- IOO junctively to produce a truly safe and perfect letter-box.

Having described the device, what I claim 1s- 1. The combination of a mail-box having a letter-receiving slot, on each side of which in- Wardly project strips, and havingon its inner opposite side a hook, Wit-h a mail-bag provided With an open end normally closed by a strap and suitable lock, and having at one corner of the opposite side an eye and. at the other a rigid frame surrounding the 1etterreceiving slot ofthe bag, said frame being provided with spring actuated Wings pivoted therein, the frame also adapted to fit over the projecting strips of the box, the several parts operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a box having a letv ter receiving slot and inwardly -projeeting strips or tlanges on each side thereof, and having on the inner side opposite the slot a hook, a mail-bag having at one corner an eye and at the other an automatically closing orifice adapted to coincide with the letter-receiving slot in the box, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with a inail-box having a letter-receiving slot, on each side of which there are inwardly-proj ecting strips or flanges, the said box having on the inner side, opposite the slot, an inwardly-projecting hook, of a mail-bag having an eye' at one end and at th e other end a frame carrying spring-actuated Wings, said frame being adapted to receive the strips or iianges von the box, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A mail-box having a rounded top and a partition dividing the main portion of the box from the said top, and thereby forming two independent compartments, the upper compartment having one end permanently closed and the other end normally closed by a door, the two compartments forming, respectively, a paper-receptacle and a letter-receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. LEO EHRLICH Witnesses: l'

FRANK P. BLAIR, J AMES L. BLAIR. 

